Run-Down Forums

Ducks Fan · Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2003 8:43 pm Post subject: Judgement Call

Great site you have hear, and I have a question...

I'm pretty new to running. I decided to run track last year (my sophomore year in HS) which the first time I had ever run competively. I did pretty well for a first timer (4:58.8 1500) and enjoyed every minute of it. But since I started training for XC (which will be my first time), I realized one thing: I don't like it.

I don't know why, but I just can't run a 5k very fast. Yesterday, I ran a 3k and got 12:58. I have a done a few open 5ks this summer and my best is about 20:30. In track this past year I was staying with guys who were around 18:40 and beating one who was around 19:00. I just don't really like running XC and am not very good at it. It's not that I'm out of shape because I run around 40-50 miles a week and feel great. Tonight I was determined to show that my 12:58 3k (6:57 per mile) was a fluke, so I did the first mile of the 3k course pretty hard and only got 6:40 or so. I then went to a track to see if I was just in a slump, so a did some 400s, 300s, and 200s. The 4s were around 80, 3s around 58, and 2s around 37 (and all felt pretty easy). That is what I'd do when I ran my 4:59 1500, so I know I'm still in good shape. I never thought I'd say this: but compared to running XC, I like intervals around the track.

So that *finally* brings me to my question, should I run XC this year? Or should I just do what I really enjoy and train for track. I have high expectations for next year in track (I'd like to run about 4:40 at the start of the year and sub 4:30 at the end) and I really want to meet them. Should I just use XC to build endurance, should I not do it at all, or can I do something to actually be good at it? It's annoying being beaten by 13 year olds at these Open runs because I know I'd easily beat them on the track.

BTW, I live in Salem, OR too and often run at Bush Park (I recoginzed there were a few people on these forums who lived here and talked about running at BP)

Dan · Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2003 9:13 pm Post subject:

Seems like a very easy answer to me. If track is what you're serious about and you don't enjoy cross country, is there really even a question worth answering? Cross country is beneficial to some runners and anything but to others. Anyone who tells you everyone will benefit from XC is too close minded to be worth listening to...

Ducks Fan · Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2003 9:54 pm Post subject:

i usually do a nice easy run around the bark dust path around 1 or 2 and then my intervals around the track at 8:30 (although with the construction i'd often just run around the park some more or around the state capitol/Will.)

even though i don't like it, do you think it would be beneficial to run XC. i'll be running with a different coach and a new team this year (switching HS) so do you think i should get to know my peers and coach before track? i also realize that some are just better at long distances (the 800 state champ had a national best of 1:48.xx but *only* ran 16:xx in XC, about a minute and a half slower than the state champ), so a part of me just wants to use it to get in really good shape. practice starts in about 10 days or so, so i don't have too much time to decide

Dan · Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2003 10:35 pm Post subject:

Getting to know your new team is a good thing, but most coaches ought to be receptive to you training with the team and not necessarily competing or doing all the workouts if they don't meet your spring preparation plan. Having the structured environment will most definitely help your overall training (not many fall track training programs in HS that I'm aware of), but it sounds to me like you'd be better off with track-specific workouts.

Dan
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Ducks Fan · Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2003 10:45 pm Post subject:

when do you run at BP?

Dan · Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2003 10:55 pm Post subject:

In the ballpark of when you run, actually. Generally between noon and 3, depending on when I ate breakfast... 2pm is probably about average.

Dan
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Ducks Fan · Posted: Sat Aug 09, 2003 12:05 am Post subject:

do you run along the bark dust trail? if so, i may run into you sometime

Dan · Posted: Sat Aug 09, 2003 7:18 am Post subject:

Yeah, I mostly stick to the outer loop. I was going to run on the track the other day, but I decided to steer clear of the construction. I think it'll be finished up pretty soon, as I'm sure they're planning on getting the football team out there on the turf in the next week or two.

Dan
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Ducks Fan · Posted: Sat Aug 09, 2003 1:10 pm Post subject:

I just started running on the track again. No one's around at night, and the track is clear, so I just run on it. They'll probably put the steeple hurdles across the first four lanes like usualy, so I want to get in as many interval workouts from lane 1 as possible.

When was the last time they poured a new track? It's nice, but I was expecting nicer for a college track. My HS track last year was probably the nicest I've ever been on, but Will's is just ok. At least it's better than the track I'll be running on this year, so I can't really complain.

Dan · Posted: Sat Aug 09, 2003 1:40 pm Post subject:

Eh? The Willamette track is one of the nicest in the state! It's only 2-3 years old and is still in very good shape. $300k+ for just the surface will do that... The only negative about the track is that it's a very soft surface -- great for distance runners and for training on, but not particularly liked by sprinters. It is hardening up over time, though.

(I coached at Willamette for 4 years up until last year and was there during the track construction.)

Where'd you go to HS last year? The only track I know of in the state that is nicer than WU's is at Hayward, but that's not a great training surface now that they've significantly hardened it for all the championship meets they've gotten the past 8 years or so. I hear Jesuit HS' is quite nice, but I've never seen it in person. I believe George Fox and Linfield just got new tracks put in (GFU last summer and Linfield this summer, from what I was told) by the same company that did Willamette's, so they're probably comparable.

Dan
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Ducks Fan · Posted: Sat Aug 09, 2003 3:44 pm Post subject:

Last year I was at West HS. I don't know if you've ever been up there yet, but you should check it out. I think it's the same as Hayward's surface, but I don't know for sure. It's the only HS I know of that has an orange track (but I'm sure Jesuit and CC have them, I've just never been to them), and it's really soft.

On another note, didn't they have to pour a new track because the other one was too big? I thought I read that in the Statesman, but it may have been something else.

Dan · Posted: Sat Aug 09, 2003 5:00 pm Post subject:

West ... HS? West what? Salem?

I believe Jesuit's track is blue, but I'm not positive...

Ducks Fan · Posted: Sat Aug 09, 2003 9:04 pm Post subject:

yeah, West Salem (I thought you'd know considering I said i lived in Salem). Have you been to it? If not, you should really check it out.

Dan · Posted: Sat Aug 09, 2003 10:08 pm Post subject:

I don't think you said where you lived last year though, and since you switched to a different school...

I haven't been out to West Salem HS. I actually don't get out to that side of town too often.

Dan
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Ducks Fan · Posted: Sat Aug 09, 2003 10:46 pm Post subject:

i'm just switching from West to South (both Salem). didn't really like West, so I'm going back to South. The only bad thing about changing is going from the best Valley League track to one of the worst

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